Mail-box.



PATENTED PEB. 18, 1908.

'0. C. MYRHOW.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIGATION FILED n.23

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PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

C. C. MYRHOW.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIOATION HLBD 23.23, 1907.

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I/I//TNESSES 1HE NorcRls FsrERs co.. WASHINGTON, a c.

CARL C. MYRHOW, OF FINGAL, NORTH DAKOTA'.

MAIL-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed April 28. 1907. Serial No. 369.861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that CARL O. MYRHow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fingal, in the county of Barnes'and State of North Dakota, has invented certain newv and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes, and more particularly for those designed for use on rural routes, and has for its object to provide a box including a mail receiving compartment for the reception of letters and packages delivered by the carrier, and a mail receiving drawer for the reception of matter to be collected the arrangement being such that when delivered matter is placed in the box the drawer will be automatically opened.

Another object is to provide a structure facilitating the introduction of matter to the mail receiving compartment and which will be such that the contents of the box will be protected from moisture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present box. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the drawer closed. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the lid depressed for the introduction of mail, and the drawer in open position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the forward portion of the lid and its connection with the forward wall.

Referring now to drawings the present box comprises a hollow body portion including end walls 5 which are slanted downwardly at their upper forward portions as shown at 6,

these slanting portions terminating at flat upper edge portions 7 to which there is secured a top plate 8. The body portion also includes a rear wall 9 which is also secured to the top plate 8, and a front wall 10 secured to the forward edges of the .end walls 5 and to the bottom 11, to which the side and rear walls are also secured.

By reason of the termination of the top plate 3 at the rearward ends of the slanting portions 6 of the end walls, there is formed an opening 12 in the top of the box, as shown, and a lid 13 is hinged at its forward edge to the upper edge of the wall 10, for movement into and out of position to close the opening.

lSprings 14 are arranged to hold the lid yieldably against downward movement, and inwardly extending flanges 15 are carried by the walls 5 at the slanting portions 6 thereof, and by the forward edge of the top plate 3 to limit the upward movement of the lid, which thus lies normally in position to close the opening.

An opening 16 is formed in the lower portion of the forward wall 10, the lower edge of this opening being closed by the bottom 11, and a drawer 17 is disposed upon the bottom for movement through this opening to lie at times within the box and at times to extend outwardly therefrom.

A tube 1S is located within the body portion rearwardly of the drawer 17 and receives slidably therewithin a plunger 19 carried by and extending rearwardly from the drawer 17. A helical spring 20 is disposed within the tube, and rests at one end against the rearward wall 9 of the body portion, and at its other against the rearward end of the plunger, this spring being arranged to hold the drawer yieldably in open position, as will be observed from'the drawing.

y A horizontal partition 21 is located within the body portion above the drawer 17, to prevent upward movement thereof at its forward end and mounted between its ends upon this partition there is a lever 22 having a pin 23 at its rearward end which extends downwardly through an opening 24 formed in the partition 21 for engagement in a notch 25 formed in the upper edge of one side wall 26 ofthe drawer 17. A spring 27 holds the lever 22 with the .pin 23 yieldably against upward movement, and the drawer is thus held in closed position by the lever and pin which act as a spring latch therefor.

A rod 28 is pivoted at its upper end to the under face of the lid13 and de ends therefrom through a guide 29 carried) by the forward wall 10 of the body portion and this rod lies normally directly over and with its lower lend in position for engagement of the lever at the opposite side of its pivot point from the in 23. As will be seen from the drawing, t e arrangement is such that when the lid 13 is moved downwardly to permit the introduction of mail to the mail compartment (shown at A), the lower end of the rod 28 will be brought into engagement with the lever 22, and the latter will be moved to release the drawer 17, which will be thrown into open position by the spring 20. l

As shown in Fig. 2, when the drawer 17 is in closed position, it lies with its forward wall 17 inwardly of the wall 10 so that the passage of moisture across the lower edge of the wall 10 by capillary attraction, and thence into the drawer is prevented. The lid 13 is provided with a lip 3() at its forward edge which is curved downwardly and inwardly to engage the forward face of the wall 10 when the lid is in closed position, and thus the entrance of moisture to the box between the forward edges of the lid and the wall l() is prevented. Baffie plates 31 and 32 are disposed within the body portion in position to prevent the removal of mail through the opening 12.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mail boX, the combination with a body portion having an opening therein, vof a lid for the opening, said lid being hinged for downward movement into open position, a sliding drawer in the lower portion of the body portion, a lever pivoted between its ends, a pin pivoted-to one end of said lever, said pin being arranged for engagement with the drawer to hold it in closed position, av

spring arranged to engage the opposite end of the lever from the pinto hold the lever With the pin in 'drawer engaging position, and a rod pivoted to the lid and arranged for engagement of the lever at the opposite side of the pivot point from the pinsaid rod being movable with the lid to operate the lever for movement of the pin out of drawer engaging osition, and a spring arranged to hold the diawer in open position.

2. In a mail box, the combination with a body portion having an opening therein, of a lid hinged for movement into and out of position to close the opening, a horizontal partition located within the body portion, a drawer slidable below said partition, said partition having an opening formed therethrough, said drawer having a notch in one side located to lie below the opening of the partition when the drawer is in closed posi tion, a lever pivoted upon the partition, a pin pivoted to the lever for movement through the opening of the partition, a spring arranged to hold the lever with the pm at the downward limit of its movement and in position to engage in the notch of the drawer, means for holding the drawer normally in open position, means for holding the lid normally closed, and a rod pivoted to the lid and arranged for engagement of the lever for movement of the latter to 'raise'the pin when the lid is moved into open position.

In testimony whereof he. affiXes his signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CARL C. MYR'HOW. Witnesses: ANTON. ANDERSON,

CHRISTIAN MYRHow. 

